title: [Influence of cadmium on structure and functions of mitochondria in hepatic cells].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To study the effects of cadmium on the structure and functions of mitochondria in hepatocytes.
  
  
  METHODS
  Mitochondria were isolated from cultured human hepatocytes of the line WRL-68 and co-cultured with cadmium chloride (CdCl2) of the concentration of 1, 5, and 10 micromol/L, and WRL-68 cells not treated with CdCl2 (0 micromol/L) was used as control group. Cyclosporin A (CsA) was added into the culture medium. Mitochondrial permeability transition pore (MPTP) opening degree was tested by spectrophotometer. Morphologic changes of mitochondria were observed under transmission electron microscope. The activities of Na+ -K+ -ATPase, Ca2+ -Mg2+ -ATPase, LDH, superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), and the contents of malondialdehyde (MDA) were measured Mitochondria membrane potential (MMP) was monitored by spectrofluorimeter with fluorescence dye Rh-123.
  
  
  RESULTS
  CdCl2 reduced the absorbance of mitochondria, signifying the opening of MPTP, concentration-dependently. The absorbance of mitochondria co-cultured with CsA and CdCl2 10 micromol/L was higher than that of the. CdCl2, 10 micromol/L group. Mild swelling was seen in the mitochondria treated with CdCl2. The MMP values of the CdCl2 5 and 10 micromol/L groups were significantly lower than that of the control group (P < 0.05, P < 0.01). The activity levels of ATPase, LDH, SOD, and GSH-Px in mitochondria decreased in the CdCl2 groups (all P < 0.05), and the contents of MDA increased in the CdCl2 groups compared with the control group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  CdCl2 causes destruction of mitochondria structure, opening of MPTP, decrease of MMP, and changes of vitality of mitochondria enzymes that all play important roles in apoptosis of hepatocytes.
authors.affiliation: College of Life Science, Nanjing Normal University, Molecule and Medicine Biotechnology Lab of Jiangsu Province, Nanjing, China.
authors.forename: Na-na
authors.initials: NN
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Wei-ping
authors.initials: WP
authors.lastname: Mao
authors.forename: Chuan-jing
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Wei
authors.forename: Lei
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.forename: Hong-yun
authors.initials: HY
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Juan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Feng
mesh_terms: D000251:Adenosine Triphosphatases / Q000378:metabolism; D019256:Cadmium Chloride / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002460:Cell Line; D005979:Glutathione Peroxidase / Q000378:metabolism; D022781:Hepatocytes / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D008315:Malondialdehyde / Q000378:metabolism; D053078:Membrane Potential, Mitochondrial / Q000187:drug effects; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D008930:Mitochondria, Liver / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology / Q000648:ultrastructure; D033681:Mitochondrial Membrane Transport Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D000083162:Mitochondrial Permeability Transition Pore; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D033681:Mitochondrial Membrane Transport Proteins; D000083162:Mitochondrial Permeability Transition Pore; D008315:Malondialdehyde; D005979:Glutathione Peroxidase; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase; D000251:Adenosine Triphosphatases; D019256:Cadmium Chloride